"Please don't take it seriously. That's just how we joke around whenever we meet," Lucius said with a casual smile, gesturing for everyone to take their seats at the dining table.
The atmosphere during lunch was filled with polite conversation, but the central focus was unmistakably on Orabela and Canvin's impending engagement. Both families' elders discussed the details with enthusiasm, their voices mingling with the clinking of silverware.
By the time dessert was served, they had reached a decision on the engagement date, sealing their agreement with satisfied nods and smiles.
Orabela, however, remained silent throughout the meal. She nodded politely when spoken to but refrained from expressing her true feelings about the arrangement.
Internally, her emotions churned with resentment and resignation. She despised the idea of this engagement, feeling trapped by the expectations placed upon her. Yet, she knew she had no choice but to go along with it.
